What’s one of the most exciting parts of an action horror movie?
The chase, right?
Your heart pounds with adrenaline, just like the actors on screen, as they rush into their getaway car. With trembling hands, they crank the engine (which never seems to start at the first turn) and then drive madly for their lives (likely with some unreasonably fast zombies racing behind.)
What car was it?
Probably a Ford, the most-featured car brand in horror movies.
But Ford wasn’t every helpless victim’s top choice.
So, let’s take a look at some horror icons-on-wheels in honor of Halloween, starting with (yes, you guessed it) a Ford:
1. Most Unfortunate: 1972 Ford Club Econoline Van – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
While we did talk about getaway cars, this is the one that you don’t want to get away with.
The 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre features five friends road-tripping in this Club Wagon, only to cross paths with cannibal Leatherface and family. Suffice to say that it didn’t end well.
Source: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2. Scariest: 1958 Plymouth Fury – Christine
If you haven’t watched any horror movies featuring cars, this is the one to go for. Nothing like the tale of a gorgeous, red, classic Fury — named “Christine” — with a jealous personality and a penchant for murder.
Thank you, Stephen King, for bringing this demon-possessed set of wheels into existence.
Source: Sicnag, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
3. Coolest: 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 – The Evil Dead Trilogy
There’s something distinct about the front face of the Oldsmobile Delta 88. That bright beam of light from its squarish, quad-eyed stare cuts through a foggy, nightmarish landscape — lending hope of escape from the gathering undead.
Director Sam Raimi has a soft spot for this car and featured it in all three Evil Dead films. We think the spinning blade add-ons it gets in the 3rd installment are pretty cool. And if you’re not into horror, you’ll see this car in the original Spiderman trilogy too.
Source: Niels de Wit, via Flickr
4. Slasher Car: 1958 Cadillac Series 62 – Nightmare on Elm Street
The more-famous “horror” Cadillac is probably the ECTO-1 ambulance from Ghostbusters.
But we want to spotlight this less-seen sinister set of wheels.
This horror icon pops onscreen for the briefest moment at the end of the movie in the most unnerving way. The lead characters jump into this Cadillac convertible — the top closes, showcasing Freddy Krueger’s trademark stripes, trapping them inside.
Source: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
5. Most Mileage: 1967 Chevrolet Impala – Supernatural
While the previous 4 are movie cars, we can’t leave out this recognizable ride from long-running series “Supernatural.”
How could we forget Dean Winchester’s Chevy Impala (better known as “Baby”)? This beautiful, black muscle car carried the Winchester brothers all over the country in their quest to save people and hunt down monsters. It deserves to be on the Halloween car list.
Source: nakhon100, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons